Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga says Ghana stand the chance of saving GHS2billion yearly if the country totally abolishes sole sourcing and restricted tendering from the law books.
According to Mahama Ayariga, sole sourcing and restricted tendering are greatly affecting development in the country.
President Akufo-Addo during the State of the Nation Address 2018 said with the rejection of 52% of restricted tendering and 43.4% of sole sourcing contracts, Ghana was able to save GH¢800 million.
"There were 346 Requests for Restricted Tenders, and 167 (48%) were approved, and 179 (52%) were rejected, the savings for Ghana, made over the year, as a result, amounted to some GH¢800 million said, President, Akufo-Addo."
According to the President Akufo-Addo, in 2017, in his first year in office, 394 Sole Sourcing Requests were made, out of which 223 (56.6%) were approved, and 171 (43.4%) were rejected.
President Akufo-Addo revealed that the NPP Government have been able to transfer some GH¢3.1 billion of Tier 2 pension funds into the custodial accounts of the pension schemes of the labour unions, funds that have been outstanding for six years, and about which the labour unions had been loudly complaining.
Mahama Ayariga against sole sourcing and restricted tenderingÂ
Speaking in a radio interview on Monday, February 26 Mahama Ayariga said with this statement by the President and per his calculations, Ghana will save GHS2billion every year if sole sourcing and restricted tendering are abolished.
"In my estimation, by simply removing sole sourcing and restricted tendering from our law President Akufo-Addo overnight can take Ghana out of aid.."
Commenting further on his intention to present a bill before Parliament to prohibit sole sourcing in the country, Mahama Ayariga believes if sole sourcing and restricted tendering are abolished major gaps in the economy can be solved.
"We will be able to address major gaps in our infrastructure financing under our constitution we are required to introduce progressively free tertiary education.."Â
He added that "the tool is in our hands to simply pass a legislation abolishing sole sourcing and restricted tendering."
Mahama Ayariga also called for bi-partisan commitment towards the passage of the bill yet to be presented to the House.
www.primenewsghana.com/Â Ghana News
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